IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1919, Page 6

IN THE AIR.

NC4 IN TROUBLE. COMPELLED TO DESCEND. By Telegraph— rress Assn. -Coi)yr : ght. London, May 30. A wireless message which lias been received states that NC 4 was compelled to descend at Mondego, 10!) miles north of Lisbon.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. London, May 30. NC 4 descended in the Mondego River owing to adverse winds. It is not. damaged and is expected to resume the journey to-morrow. New York, May 19. Commander Itead, describing the journey of NC t to the Azores, says lie started the flight at an altitude of 800 feet, and then rose to 1800 feet. ITe sighted each destroyer owing to their brilliant illumination. After passing the 16th destroyer the airplane entered a fog and was compelled to rise fo 3000 feet. The fog prevented continuing the llight direct to Ponta del Garda. The seaplane needed only slight repairsBRITAIN TO EGYPT FLIGHT. Rome, May 18. Ten British aeroplanes arrived en route to Egypt. Nine landed safely, but the tenth crashed, pinning the five occupants underneath.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. London, May 18. The correct story of the Rome disaster is that two 'Handley-Page machines flew from Marseilles. The first landed successfully at the Centocelle aerodrome; the second, endeavoring to avoid the first, struck a big tree and crashed into a deep trench. Lieutenants Prince and Strati were killed, Colonel Laurence broke an arm, and the mechanic was slightly wounded.—Aus. and, N.Z. Cable Assn.

PARTICULARS OF HAWKER'S FLIGHT.

New York, May 20.

The St. Joins correspondent of the New York Times states that Hawker's machines) weighed 62001b5, and was so heavily laden that it was at first believed it would not be able to rise, but, after racing over the Mount Pearl field for a distance of three hundred yards.', she soared , gracefully skywards. The few spectators who witnessed the flight cheered heartily' and watched the machine circle about and manoeuvre into the wind and set its' face over the city, thence over Qui Divide, where Hawker signalled farewell to Raynham and headed seaward. The marine signalman at Cabot Tower, which surmounts the hill at the north entrance of St. Johns harbor, signalled within ten minutes "Sopwith out of sight." . When Raynham saw that Hawker had started he took the matter philosophically and said he could give the Sopwith two or three hours lead and still beat it, because tho Martinsyde could travel 20 miles an hour faster. A few minutes later than Hawker, Raynham and Morgan pushed their machines out of the hangar in the Qui Divide field and started the engine and about an hour after Hawker's departure | Raynham was ready for a start. The [machine rose a few feet and then fell, I smashing the wings and body crumpling the under-earriage and jarring the engine and fusilage. .Expert airmen present declared the machine unfit for further flying unless taken to England and repaired. About 10,000 persons witnessed the accident. Morgan and Raynham were cut about the face but able to walk unassisted.

Before leaving, Hawker said he had absolute confidence in his engine and navigator Grieve. He asked Grieve if be could not dispense with his pyjamas in order to lighten the plane.

When asked if he would be able to sleep during the voyage Hawker replied ,fHe will have long sleep at the end." Hawker estimated that he would have five hours of sunlight then starlight and moonlight. He anticipated that the trip would occupy 19 hours. He believed he would be able to maintain a speed of 106 miles an hour after dropping the under-carriage.—Aub.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COSTLY FLIGHT. New York, May 18. A Trepassey correspondent estimates that the trans-Atlantic flight will cost the United States a million dollars, of which 50,000 dollars will be chargeable to research, 200,000 dollar.? to airplanes and equipment and the balance to the operations of destroyers.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Asan. LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCE.

New York, May 17The Washington correspondent states that the Navy Department lias revealed the contents of the sealed orders show- | ing that the flight of the seaplanes was ( planned in the minutest details many j months ago. The orders outline the speed, equipment, route, crew of the planes, the manner in which the course of the flight would he patrolled bv war I vessels, wireless arrangements, place of landing at the Azores, etc. The orders stated that, after arrival at tho Azores, the planes were to re-fuel quickly, remain not more than a night, start for Lisbon (000 miles), thence after a night's stay to fly to Plymouth, England (775 miles). —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ,